Author Archives: paddylastinc

Will Catriona Gray’s Rogue Magazine Cover Ruin Her Binibining Pilipinas Dreams?

After Catriona Gray’s successful filing yesterday in the hopes of becoming a Binibining Pilipinas candidate, pageant fans and pundits are waiting in bated breath whether she’d actually make it as an official candidate or all of her preparations will be for naught.

You may recall that Miss World 2013 Megan Young was allegedly denied participation during the 2013 edition of the Binibining Pilipinas pageant due to her very daring editorial for Rogue Magazine in 2012.

Catriona was featured on the cover of Rogue Magazine during its January-February 2014 Music Issue wearing a backless Roland Mouret dress. I personally don’t see anything wrong with this and the editorial that goes along with it was too high-fashion to even be considered racy. At all.

Just  let me post what Rogue Magazine exactly is based on their website. I personally don’t read the magazine so forgive me.

Rogue is an award-winning magazine that covers entertainment, culture, and current affairs for an affluent and important audience in the Philippines. Rogue is synonymous with beautiful women, powerful photography, and intelligent storytelling. Thought-provoking, relevant, and glamorous, Rogue has become a lifestyle filter whose pages reflect the unique pulse of Filipinos, in the Philippines and abroad. Combining cutting-edge style with profiles on the country’s influencers — from art and design to business and politics — Rogue is a purveyor of impeccable taste, elegant covers, and world-class journalism.  – Rogue.ph

The crux of the matter is, detractors of Ms. Gray are already clamoring for her disqualification which I thought was really mean-spirited and very unsportmanlike stating it clearly violates the Binibining Pilipinas rules of posing for men’s magazine. SERIOUSLY GUYS, GET A GRIP. Let the girl chase her dreams!

And to Catriona, Ganbatte! ^_^

Photo Credits: Fashion Media PH

Who’s Afraid of Catriona Gray? #CatrionaBBP2018

From Catriona’s Instagram

After her last minute application to the nationals, former Miss World Philippines and Miss World 2016 3rd runner-up Catriona Gray just sealed her status as the one to beat for the top plum in this year’s edition of the annual Binibining Pilipinas beauty pageant.

Gray whose shocking exclusion from the Top 3 of the Miss World 2016 enraged many pageant fans allegedly prompting the then Miss World Philippines National Director Cory Quirino to give up the franchise of the pageant. Quirino even gave her blessings to Catriona should she endeavor to join the premier national pageant.

Catriona trending on Twitter upon submission of application! Now, that’s the star power!

As we wait for the announcement of the official candidates in the coming days, we’ll know more if Catriona will be able to maintain the momentum from here on up to the finals night. It’s inevitable that she’ll end up winning one of the six crowns at stake but her joining is also a risky move as there’s a possibility of being relegated to a lower-tier pageant assignment.

In any case, your blogger and I’m pretty sure the rest of the pageant fans around the world are tuned in on what’s about to tranpire in the coming months!

So are you afraid of Catriona Gray 2.0?

Book Review: All Kinds of Tied Down (Marshals, #1) – Mary Calmes

Published: July 24, 2014
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Format: Novel
Genre And Theme: LGBTQ, Romance, Thriller, Action
Length: 290 pages, ebook
Characters: Miro Jones, Ian Doyle

Blurb: Deputy US Marshal Miro Jones has a reputation for being calm and collected under fire. These traits serve him well with his hotshot partner, Ian Doyle, the kind of guy who can start a fight in an empty room. In the past three years of their life-and-death job, they’ve gone from strangers to professional coworkers to devoted teammates and best friends. Miro’s cultivated blind faith in the man who has his back… faith and something more.

As a marshal and a soldier, Ian’s expected to lead. But the power and control that brings Ian success and fulfillment in the field isn’t working anywhere else. Ian’s always resisted all kinds of tied down, but having no home—and no one to come home to—is slowly eating him up inside. Over time, Ian has grudgingly accepted that going anywhere without his partner simply doesn’t work. Now Miro just has to convince him that getting tangled up in heartstrings isn’t being tied down at all.

I’ve read quite a few books from Mary Calmes and I’m generally satisfied with everything I’ve read from her. I find her writing exceptionally fun and consistent.

This is another one of those fun stories. Fun because I enjoyed devouring each and every page of it. Miro and Ian are a match made in heaven for me. You can feel the chemistry between them from the get-go. They actually reminded me a bit of Ty and Zane.

I loved Miro’s backstory. It’s a very fascinating background and I’d really like for the author to dig deeper into this. A story that has something to do with his obvious Easter European ancestry perhaps? Lol. This was released four years as the first book of a series and the fourth one is about to be release two months from now, so that “digging deeper” on Miro’s backstory is merely wishful thinking on my end.. Hah!

Ian as the total opposite of Miro’s character is very much swoony just like the way Miro was describing him. I thought he’s real funny and I absolutely adore his voice. His temper and straightforward approach with things are a fun to read especially with his interaction with Miro.

I also loved the timeline of the story here. You can actually feel the progression in the story and its characters. I loved the different angles provided by the author for its future release to expound. There’s the serial killer, th witsec kids and interesting characters that we may see in the author’s future/other books.

I’d definitely read the next books off this series!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

About the Author
Mary Calmes believes in romance, happily ever afters, and the faith it takes for her characters to get there. She bleeds coffee, thinks chocolate should be its own food group, and currently lives in Kentucky with a five-pound furry ninja that protects her from baby birds, spiders and the neighbor’s dogs. To stay up to date on her ponderings and pandemonium (as well as the adventures of the ninja) follow her on Twitter @MaryCalmes, connect with her on Facebook, and subscribe to her Mary’s Mob newsletter.

Mary Calmes Book Blog: http://www.marycalmesbooks.com/?zx=69867d3490321aa2
Mary’s Mob Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cUHFEP
Mary Calmes Website: http://www.marycalmes.com/

Book Review: Santori (Santori Trilogy #1) – Maris Black

Published December 15, 2017
Format: Novel
Genre And Theme: LGBTQ, Romance, Drama, Sports, Thriller, Action
Length: 230 pages, ebook
Ebook ISBN/ASIN: ASIN B077FSLKQF
Characters: Michael “Kage Santori,” Jamie Atwood, Peter Santori

I’ve been so busy with a lot of stuff and I just found out recently that Maris Black just released the first book of another series which happened to be the continuation of Kage and Jamie’s story! Yay! You should know that I absolutely adore Kage and Jamie! The Kage Trilogy is one of my favorite series’ from this genre. I’d advise though, for those who have not read the Kage Trilogy to give it a go first before starting this one because this is obviously not a standalone novel.

The book is called Santori, the first of the The Santori Trilogy which mostly refers to Michael (Kage) and in a roundabout way to his vile uncle, Peter Santori. It picks up right after the event of Peter Santori’s death.

The story is told from the POV of both Kage and Jamie’s (and one quite an important character in the story). It’s very fast-paced mostly recapping what they’ve been up to through their temporary separation since Jamie still has to finish his degree in Atlanta before moving in permanently with Kage in Vegas.

The whole vibe of the story isn’t as dynamic as its predecessor so there’s a bit of a disconnect from Jamie and Kage for me. There’s more telling in it than actually showing if you know what I mean.

I still adore this two but I thought the narrative in general was a bit draggy. Kage keeps on reminding himself that one of the reasons they’ve had problems before was their lack of communication but he’s consciously NOT communicating with Jamie and vice versa. I mean, I get it. They wanted to protect each other and not be a nuisance but if you think about it, they just sound like two immature kids playing house.

The Peter Santori angle was the biggest reveal of this installment but while I find it fascinating, I find it a bit unnecessary to give that much of a space in telling his story. The last few chapters were almost drowned out by him and I got lost wondering about the implications of this reveal. I mean it is shocking but to what extent? The guy is dead, after all.

I don’t want to sound like I hated this book because I honestly don’t. There are fun parts in it especially the Paul-debacle. Gosh, that was over the top hilarious and I’m fucking living for it. I think I’ve to pause reading for a good ten minutes just to laugh! That was really funny and cute!

Now, I am anxious to get hold of the second book because I wanted to know where the author will take this story and up to what extent. It has a lot of exciting possibilities and the very thought that it’s going on the dark side is very much thrilling!

Lastly, that cover featuring Mike Chabot is absolutely swoony!

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

About The Author
Maris Black lives in the Southern United States. In college, she majored in English and discovered the joys of creative writing and literary interpretation. After honing her skills discovering hidden meanings authors probably never intended, she collected her English degree and got a job at a newspaper. But she soon figured out that small town reporting wasn’t going to pay the bills, so she went to work in the medical field. Logical progression, right? But no matter what she did, the self-proclaimed compulsive plotter couldn’t stop writing fiction.

“The M/M genre feels sort of like coming home,” she says. “I can’t quite explain it. I’ve always had openly gay and bisexual friends and relatives, the rights and acceptance of whom are very important to me, so it feels great to celebrate that. But there’s also something so pure and honest about the love between two men that appeals to me and inspires me to write.”

Find Me: MarisBlack.com
Like Me: facebook.com/marisblackbooks

Film Review: Pyotr495 (2016) – An LGBTQ Horror Short

I just discovered this short film by Blake Mawson a week ago while binge-watching short films on Youtube and I thought it’d be a great post to start 2018 since it’s very relevant to the horror that is happening in Russia with their anti-LGBT laws – not only in Russia, I supposed but still many parts of the world despite all of the breakthrough we’ve had in 2017 when it comes to bringing out equality.

Set one evening in present-day Moscow, 16 year-old Pyotr is baited by an ultra-nationalist group known for their violent abductions and attacks bolstered by Russia’s LGBT propaganda law, but Pyotr has a dangerous secret.

I do loved the symbolism used by Mawson to capture the mentality of this type of hate groups that baits gay people. While watching this 15-minute film, I got to thinking that there are indeed monsters in this world. It’s scary to think that at this time and age – there are still people / monsters like these.

I also loved the vibe of the whole film, that it reminded me so much of A Serbian Film with the character acting like a background in it, though probably less shocking. What a really clever and relevant film! I do hope that anyone who’s reading this will give this film their 15 minutes.

Directed by Blake Mawson
Cast: Alex Ozerov, Alanna Bale, Juliana Semenova, Max Rositsan

Highly Recommended!

Book Review: Tried & True (THIRDS, #10) – Charlie Cochet

Published November 24, 2017
Format: Novel
Genre And Theme: LGBTQ, Romance, Shifters, Comedy, Sci-Fi
Length: 254 pages, ebook
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Ebook ISBN/ASIN: 9781640801165
Characters: Sloane Brodie, Dexter J. Daley

I’ve read this upon its release last month and have only gotten to writing a review as we speak! Sorry, Charlie – I’ve been so busy!

Y’all know I’m the biggest fan of Dex and Sloane and this final installment of the THIRDS series is a bit nostalgic in a way because one of my favorite couples will be embarking on a new chapter and new series for that matter which I believe is slated in 2019 (OMG! So long!)

Anyway, before I get sidetrack (I’m definitely writing freestyle right now so bear with what I am about to post in a bit and what you’re about to read haha!) – Okay, as much as I loved Charlie and the guys – I’ve to say that this isn’t my favorite book in the series. Don’t get me wrong, I still loved it but I was maybe hoping for lesser drama! But what can I do? It’s the finale so it was expected. I was just dead worried the whole time that the wedding will not be happening at all. I swear, I was ready to stalk Charlie on social media. LOL

The thing that bothers me a bit here is the disconnect I felt with most of the characters here. It’s like, we’re all just waiting for the big day to happen but lo and behold – drama unfolds! Ugh! Sometimes, I just want them to mellow for a bit!

Okay, perhaps I’m getting a bit carried away now since it’s 2:40 in the morning from where I am. It was still an awesome read overall. I’d recommend it to fans of the series for now because it’s definitely not stand alone!

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

About The Author
Charlie Cochet is an author by day and artist by night. Always quick to succumb to the whispers of her wayward muse, no star is out of reach when following her passion. From adventurous agents and sexy shifters, to society gentlemen and hardboiled detectives, there’s bound to be plenty of mischief for her heroes to find themselves in, and plenty of romance, too!

Currently residing in Central Florida, Charlie is at the beck and call of a rascally Doxiepoo bent on world domination. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading, drawing, or watching movies. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.

Website: http://www.charliecochet.com
THIRDS HQ: http://www.thirdshq.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/charliecochet
Facebook Author Page: http://www.twitter.com/charliecochet
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/charliecochet/
tumblr: http://www.charliecochet.tumblr.com

Email: charlie@charliecochet.com

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My 2017 Recap in Beauty Pageants!

2017 has been an eventful year in the world of pageantry from the staging of the 65th Miss Universe pageant in Manila in January up to its homecoming in Las Vegas last November 26 and every minor and major pageants in between – it was whirlwind and almost chaotic for both pageant fans and pundits!

France took the Miss Universe crown ending its 63-year title drought.

In a sold-out Mall of Asia Arena in the Philippines, you could hear the crowd clamoring for Haiti’s Raquel Pélissier to succeed the DCI crown from the outgoing Miss Universe, the Philippines’ very own Pia Wurtzbach but Iris Mittenare of France was just too strong a competitor to be denied. It was a well-deserved win after an impressive showing during the preliminaries and a flawless performance in the finals night. Iris was the rightful winner!

Rachel Peters Conquered the Binibini Stage!

Rachel Peters is one of the frontrunners during this year’s Binibining Pilipinas and she was faultless during the finals night leaving the rest of the contestants vying for the lesser crowns.

Miss Earth 2017 is the Philippines!

Philippines winning the crown thrice in four years was mired with criticisms of it being rigged but truth be told, in a world full of mere beauties – having the brains to boot is a novelty that will be rewarded, given the right time.

Venezuela’s Ninoska Vasquez overperformed.
Ninoska was touted to be one of the two strongest delegates for the crown. She was perfection all throughout the pre-pageant night activities but fell short with her stage-presence during the finals. Rather, she may have done it a bit too much that left the judges uncomfortable?

Fahsai underwelhmed.
Along with the Venezuelan beauty, Paweesuda Drouin of Thailand nicknamed as Fahsai was expected to be part of the elemental court but during the crucial Final eight interview portion of the competition, she stumbled when she picked the hashtag Millenial possibly costing her the Miss Earth crown.

Karen Ibasco lorded over the heavy favorites!
The Philippines is almost always sending brainy girls in this pageant. That is the biggest asset of Karen Ibasco as the host nation as she set on reclaiming the crown back to our home turf.

She may not be the most conventionally beautiful girl in the bunch but the girl does eat mic for breakfast and only reads the dictionary. Hah! Kidding aside, Karen was untouchable after the final 8 interview.

The Muy Caliente performance of Teresita Marquez at the Reina Hispanoamericana!

It was the debut participation of the Philippines and sending Teresita Marquez was perhaps the wisest decision from the organizer of the Miss World Philippines under its new national director – Arnold Vegafria.

Terestita also known as WinWyn Marquez was unstoppable in Bolivia so it’s very easy to see why she won the pageant becoming the very first Asian to do so!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbGW5-cB3y3/?taken-by=paddylastinc

https://www.instagram.com/p/BbGXaOPhTiC/?taken-by=paddylastinc

Miss World 2017

via Miss World Facebook page.

Manushi Chhillar snatched the sixth Miss World crown for India tying the title with the most wins along with Venezuela.

One word – Luminous!

Indonesia finally won their first major beauty pageant crown!

Kevin Lilliana was the main frontrunner from the get go of the competition and it’s no wonder that she end up giving her country its first win in a major beauty competition!

The Worst Staging of Miss Universe in History!

Aside from its rather simple pre-pageant activities and the horrendous preliminary competition inside a hotel, the 66th edition of the pageant was nothing to write home about. It’s probably the worst staging of the pageant that I could remember!

Was Davina Bennett Robbed?

After a stellar performance all throughout the night, Jamaica’s Davina Bennett who sported an afro was denied the crown, only winning third overall. Despite strong showing, it seems like the competition was already pre-determined to be all about Demi-Leigh Peters of South Africa.

via Miss Universe Facebook page.

Overall, I’m satisfied with the winners of each respective major pageants and I hope to see more competitive girls in 2018!

My October-December 2017 Book Haul!

So here’s my final book haul for the year 2017! Whoot hoot! I’ve actually read of all them already but as I’ve said – I loved having my own copies – it’s sort of easier when I’d like to reread them (I am actually rereading the Andrew Brawley now in between books haha)

If you are not familiar with the titles, five of these seven books are all young adult titles save for Texas Pride by Kindle Alexander and On Dublin Street by Samantha Young – both are spectacular reads and both were purchased from Book For Less (along with the Official Illustrated Movie Companion of Beautiful Creatures)

The other four came from Fully Booked which amounted to around 2600-2700 pesos. I discovered though, that Mackenzi Lee’s The Gentelman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue is P185 cheaper at the National Bookstore – a shame really cuz I saw it first in Fullybooked! I’m still happy though because I enjoyed the book plus, Fullybooked offers more LGBTQ+ title than the National Bookstore.

***

On Dublin Street – Samantha Young
Jocelyn Butler has been hiding from her past for years. But all her secrets are about to be laid bare …

Four years ago, Jocelyn left her tragic past behind in the States and started over in Scotland, burying her grief, ignoring her demons, and forging ahead without attachments. Her solitary life is working well – until she moves into a new apartment on Dublin Street, where she meets a man who shakes her carefully guarded world to its core.

Braden Carmichael is used to getting what he wants, and he’s determined to get Jocelyn into his bed. Knowing how skittish she is about entering a relationship, Braden proposes an arrangement that will satisfy their intense attraction without any strings attached.

But after an intrigued Jocelyn accepts, she realizes that Braden won’t be satisfied with just mind-blowing passion. The stubborn Scotsman is intent on truly knowing her . . . down to the very soul.

Texas Pride – Kindle Alexander
When mega movie star and two time Academy Award winner, Austin Grainger voluntarily gave up his dazzling film career, his adoring fan base thought he’d lost his mind. For Austin, the seclusion of fifteen hundred acres in the middle of Texas sounds like paradise. No more cameras, paparazzi, or overzealous media to hound him every day and night. Little did the sexiest man alive know when one door closes, another usually opens. And Austin’s opened by way of a sexy, hot ranch owner right next door.

Kitt Kelly wasn’t your average rancher. He’s young, well educated and has hidden his sexuality for most of his life. When his long time wet dream materializes as his new neighbor it threatens everything he holds dear. No way the ranching community would ever accept him if he came out. With every part of his life riding on the edge, can Kitt risk it all for a chance at love or will responsibility to his family heritage cost him his one chance at happiness?

He Forgot to Say Goodbye – Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Ramiro Lopez and Jake Upthegrove don’t appear to have much in common. Ram lives in the Mexican-American working-class barrio of El Paso called “Dizzy Land.” His brother is sinking into a world of drugs, wreaking havoc in their household. Jake is a rich West Side white boy who has developed a problem managing his anger. An only child, he is a misfit in his mother’s shallow and materialistic world. But Ram and Jake do have one thing in common: They are lost boys who have never met their fathers. This sad fact has left both of them undeniably scarred and obsessed with the men who abandoned them. As Jake and Ram overcome their suspicions of each other, they begin to move away from their loner existences and realize that they are capable of reaching out beyond their wounds and the neighborhoods that they grew up in. Their friendship becomes a healing in a world of hurt.

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue – Mackenzi Lee
Henry “Monty” Montague was born and bred to be a gentleman, but he was never one to be tamed. The finest boarding schools in England and the constant disapproval of his father haven’t been able to curb any of his roguish passions—not for gambling halls, late nights spent with a bottle of spirits, or waking up in the arms of women or men.

But as Monty embarks on his Grand Tour of Europe, his quest for a life filled with pleasure and vice is in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.

Still it isn’t in Monty’s nature to give up. Even with his younger sister, Felicity, in tow, he vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt that spans across Europe, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.

The Inexplicable Logic of My Life – Benjamin Alire Sáenz
The first day of senior year:

Everything is about to change. Until this moment, Sal has always been certain of his place with his adoptive gay father and their loving Mexican-American family. But now his own history unexpectedly haunts him, and life-altering events force him and his best friend, Samantha, to confront issues of faith, loss, and grief.

Suddenly Sal is throwing punches, questioning everything, and discovering that he no longer knows who he really is—but if Sal’s not who he thought he was, who is he?

Beautiful Creatures : The Official Illustrated Movie Companion – Mark Cotta Vaz
xplore the making of the film Beautiful Creatures in this ultimate visual companion, lavishly illustrated with full-color photos of the cast, locations, and sets. This beautiful paperback edition celebrates the on-screen creation of Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl’s fascinating world, brought to life by screenwriter and director Richard LaGravenese.

With never-before-seen images, exclusive interviews and personal stories, Mark Cotta Vaz takes you behind the scenes with cast and crew, uncovering intimate details of the filmmaking process.

***

I cannot wait to reread all of these books and I am excited for next year’s hunt!

Book Review: The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue – Mackenzi Lee

This is another one of my backlogged reviews. The last few weeks have been incredibly busy for me due to the holidays and some work deadlines, but I wanted to write a review for this awesome book before welcoming 2018, which will hopefully be full of adventures and positivity.

Let me first tell you what I thought after finishing this book: “That’s it?! That’s the end? I f*cking wanted more!” I mean, seriously, I enjoyed it so much that I didn’t want to let go of it right away. It felt like it ended too abruptly for my liking.

The most recent book I’ve read that resembled this one in some way—in terms of traveling through Europe and all its glory—is Josh Lanyon’s Jefferson Blythe, Esquire, which happens to be the most Young Adult-ish of all of Lanyon’s books, if you are not familiar with her works.

Henry, his sister Felicity, and his best friend Percy are on a Grand Tour of the Continent, after which Henry is expected to enter adulthood. As per the usual trope, things didn’t go as planned. The trio managed to steal a panacea (thanks to Henry), get captured by amateur pirates, and basically cause chaos wherever they went.

The story revolves around these three characters, all of whom have lead potential. They are indeed the main characters in this book, although the story is told entirely from Henry’s perspective. Each of them is distinctly different, vibrantly characterized, and full of personality.

I absolutely adore Henry. I loved his candor, and you can really see how he matures over the course of the story. Percy, on the other hand, is totally adorable! Gaaahhh, I loved their chemistry from the get-go! I was dying to get to the chapter where they finally realized they had been pining for each other for what felt like forever, and when it happened—ugh, I just can’t!

I feel like there is more to this story, and I cannot wait to read more of their adventures. I hope it’s Felicity’s turn next! I cannot recommend this book highly enough!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

About the Author
Mackenzi Lee holds a BA in history and an MFA in writing for children and young adults from Simmons College. She is the New York Times bestselling author of the historical fantasy novels THIS MONSTROUS THING and THE GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO VICE AND VIRTUE (HarperCollins), as well as the forthcoming THE LADY’S GUIDE TO PETTICOATS AND PIRACY and SEMPER AUGUSTUS (coming in 2019 from Flatiron/Macmillan). She is also the author of BYGONE BADASS BROADS (Abrams, 2018), a collection of short biographies of amazing women from history you probably don’t know about but definitely should, based on her popular twitter series of the same name.

She currently calls Boston home, where she manages an independent bookstore, drinks too much Diet Coke, and pets every dog she meets.

Matthew Eriksson for ZRD Official’s Fantasy Journey Street Wear AW 2018!

So I’ve been following Matthew since I’ve learned about him in 2015 and I’m just so proud of his every single project in between! Just a few days ago, he posted his latest campaign with ZRD Official’s atumn/winter line called Fantasy Journey and it looks absolutely stunning! I freaking adore the whole vibe of the collection!

Model:Matthew Eriksson | https://www.instagram.com/mattheweriksson/
Photographer: Bill Chen | http://www.billchenphotography.com| IG: https://www.instagram.com/billchenphoto/
Do check out ZRD Official’s instagram | @zrd_official_ for more updates about the collection.